Dynamic locking device

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a tool, a handpiece, and a locking member. The handpiece includes both a coupling member configured to cooperate with the tool, and a driver for rotating the tool. The locking member is movable from an unlocked position to a locked position in response to centrifugal force generated during rotation of the locking member. The locking member is configured to secure the tool to the handpiece when in the locked position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for locking a surgical tool to a handpiece, comprising:
 attaching the surgical tool to a separate locking member before inserting the surgical tool into the handpiece; 
 only linearly inserting the surgical tool and the separate locking member into the handpiece to couple the surgical tool and locking member to the handpiece; 
 locking the surgical tool to the handpiece by rotating the surgical tool and the separate locking member in the handpiece; and 
 wherein attaching the surgical tool to the separate locking member includes resiliently receiving the surgical tool into a resilient slot defined in the locking member and extending along an entire length of the locking member. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising unlocking the surgical tool from the handpiece by ceasing rotation of the surgical tool with the handpiece. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising linearly removing the surgical tool from the handpiece upon ceasing rotation of the surgical tool with the handpiece. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the surgical tool to the locking member includes pressing the separate locking member onto a stem of the surgical tool. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein pressing the separate locking member onto the stem of the surgical tool further includes passing the stem into the resilient slot of the locking member. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein locking the surgical tool to the handpiece further includes engaging a resilient portion of the separate locking member to a flange within the handpiece upon rotating both the surgical tool and the separate locking member. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein only linearly inserting both the surgical tool and the separate locking member into the handpiece further includes linearly inserting both the surgical tool and the locking member into a rotatable coupling member positioned within the handpiece. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein locking the surgical tool to the handpiece further includes rotating the surgical tool and the separate locking member so that at least one flexible tab of the locking member radially expands by way of centrifugal force to lock the surgical tool into the handpiece. 
     
     
       9. A method for locking a surgical tool to a handpiece, comprising:
 attaching a surgical tool to a separate locking member; 
 with the surgical tool attached to the separate locking member linearly inserting both the surgical tool and the locking member into the handpiece; and 
 locking the surgical tool to the handpiece by only linearly inserting both the surgical tool and the locking member into the handpiece and rotating the surgical tool and locking member with the handpiece to cause a portion of the locking member to flex to prevent removal of the surgical tool and locking member from the handpiece. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising unlocking the surgical tool and the locking member from the handpiece by ceasing rotation of the surgical tool and the locking member with the handpiece. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising linearly removing the surgical tool and the locking member from the handpiece upon ceasing rotation of the surgical tool and the locking member with the handpiece. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein attaching the locking member to the surgical tool further includes clipping the locking member onto a stem of the surgical tool by expanding a slot defined in the locking member to open as the stem passes through the slot and clamps onto the stem. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein attaching the surgical tool to the locking member includes resiliently receiving the surgical tool into a resilient slot defined in the locking member, wherein the resilient slot extends an entire length of the locking member.